Electrolytic device



July 12, 1932. w, w, CLARK ET AL 1,867,249

ELECTROLYTIC DEVICE Filed May 14, 1931 M4117 12 WCLA/PK JOHN F N- CA/V/V 1N VEN T 0R5 ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 12, 1932 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE WALTER W. CLARK AND JOHN F. MCCANN, NORTH ADAMS, MASSACHUSETTS, AS-

' SIGNORS TO SPRAGUE SPECIALTIES 00., 0F

CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS ELECTROLYTIC DEVICE Application filed May 14,

- means to prevent leakage around the venting 4 the rubber member forming an electrolytic condenser embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a fractional side elevation, partly in section, showing a modification of our invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective fractional view of the seating washer used in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is'an enlarged perspective fractional view of the seatingwasher used in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the vent and the gasket. I

The electrolytic condenser as shown in Fig. 1 embodies a container 1 comprising an electrolyte 5 and an'electrode 4 centrally located within the container. The container 1 is of cylindrical shape and is, provided on its top with an annular reentrant portion 8 havin a central hole 9. The container '1 is open at t e bottomand adapted to receive a cover 3 of insulating material, which shoulders against a circular indentation 7 of the container. Therover is provided on its bottom side with an annular recess 14, in which is located a rubber gasket over which the free end of a the container 1 is spun as shown'at 16. The

cover 3 is provided with a central raised portion 6 and a central vertical bore 33' extending therethrough and adapted-to receive a stem '17, forming preferably an integral portion of the electrode 4.

The stem 17 is provided with a -tapered portion 13 which shoulders against the raised portion 6 of the cover 3, and its threaded end 17 projects below the cover to receive the washer 19, and nuts 18-18 which retain 1931. Serial No. 537,444.

means for the proper outside connection of NORTH ADAMS, MASSACHUSETTS, A

the electrode 4, such means being indicated by lug 18.

The electrode 4 is shown as a corrugated tube and is'of the type described in the copending-applications of F. D. Sprague and R. U. Clark, Serial No. 416,939, filed December 27 1929, and M. Knab, Serial No. 441,128, filed April 2, 1930, and forms the film-forming electrode of the condenser; whereas the container 1 is preferably of non-.filming metal and forms the other electrode of the con denser. 1

Located vwithin the reentrant portion 8' of the container and. resting on the central. hottom portion 8' thereof, is a rubber member 20 (see also Fig. 5), the central portion of which forms a nipple 22 provided on its top with a vent hole 23, which is normally closed, and opens in operation at intervals, under the pressure of accumulated gas. The outer. portion 21 of the member 20 is a flange which serves as a gasket, as will be hereafter explained.

A seating washer 25' (Fig. 3 preferably.

of copper or similar material, havlng a central hole" 26 surrounding the nipple 22, is placed on to of the member 20. The washer 25 is prefera 1y of inverted conical shape and so dimensioned that when pressed in the reentrant portion 8 it is collapsed or expanded whereby it not only compresses the rubber gasket 21, but also slightly deforms the walls of the container around the bottom 8' of the reentrant portion 8. It has'been also found advisable to so apply the pressure to the washer 25 that the gasket 21 is slightly more compressed at its central portion surrounding the nipple than at its peripheral portion. For the outside protection'of the nipple there is provided a protecting cap 10 tig tly (but not necessarily air-tightly) fitting in the reentrant portion 8, said cap being provided: with a downwardly extending peripheral rim 11 and also with'one or more vent holes In themodification shown (Figs. 2, 4) the seating washer 30 is provided with a circular depression 32 and an upwardly curled semi- 'circular rim 34; the washer 30 is also provided with a central hole 31 to receive the nipple 22. When pressing in the seating washer the rim 34 is closed and the container slightly deformed at its surface con- BI tacting with the'rim. The circular depression 32 is thereby embedded in the gasket 21. Instead of using a rubber member having a projecting nipple, a flat diaphragm having a central vent hole could also be used. How- 10 ever, such diaphragm having a uniform thickness determined by its function as a gasket would, because of this necessary thickness, require a considerablegas pressure to open the vent hole 23. When the rubber member has a central nipple as shown, the nipple can be made quite thin at the vent hole.

It will be seen that'the venting and sealing means of our construction are Very simple and easy to manufacture and assemble, and at the .same time provide a perfect seal preventing spilling of the electrolyte or creeping out of the salt from the electrolyte. At

' I the same time the nipple is also mechanically protected from injury.

While we have described our invention in connection with specific embodiments and in a specific application, we do not wish to be limited to-such embodiments and application, but desire the appended tclaims to be .con- 80 str'ued as broad as permissible in view of the prior art. What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

.1. In an electrolytic device, the combina- 35 tion of a container having a reentrant portion provided with a'perforation, a compressible gasket having a nipple, said nipple registering with the perforation of the reentrant portion,-and a perforated washer surrounding said nipple and compressing said gasket, whereby an air and liquid tight seal is provided between the gasket and the reentrant portion.

2. In an electrolytic device, the combina tion of a container having a reentrant portion provided with a perforation, a compres sible gasket having a perforation registering with that of the r'eentrant portion, and a.

washer of substantially conical formation, said washer adapted to be pressed into the reentrant portion of the container whereby said washer expands and deforms the side" disposed in said reentrant portion, and a perforated washer adapted to be collapsed into the reentrant portion of the container to compress the. gasket and surround the nipple, said washer being deformed when so pressed in and providing a tight seal between the gasket and the reentrant portion.

5. In an electrolytic device, the combination of a container having a reentrant portion provided with a perforation, a compressible gasket having a nipple, and a perforated washer surrounding said nipple and compressing said gasket to form an air-tightseal 35 between the gasket and the reentrant portion, and a cap in the reentrant portion on top of the nipple to protect the latter from mechanical injury.

6. In an electrolytic device, theacombination of .a container provided with an opening and 'a compressible gasket having a perforated nipple registering with such opening, a washer surrounding the nipple, said washer compressing the gasketand being provided with a depressed portion to compress the portion of the gasket around the nipple to a greater extent than the remaining portion of the gasket.

7. In an electrolytic device, the combina- 100 tion of a container having a reentrant portion provided with an opening, a compressible gasket having a perforated nipple registering. with, such opening, and a washer, the latter surrounding the nipple and being provided 105 with a depression compressing the portions of the washer around the nipple against the 1 base of said reentrant portion, and being provided with a curled outer edge engaging the walls of the reentrant portion and tightly no fitting thereagainst.

North Adams, Mass, May 12, 1931.

I WALTER -W. CLARK..

JOHN F. MoCANN.

walls of the latter to form a tight fit between tion and to compress the gasket.

- tion of a container. having .a perforated reentrant portion, a resilient gasket having a perforated portion registering with the perforation of the said reentrant portion, and a the washer and the walls of the'ieentrant porwasher adapted to compress saidgasket against the wall of the reentrant portion, said washer being conical and adapted to be inserted into said reentrant portion and when so inserted to be deformed, whereby the por- 

